Pattern mechanism for knitting-machines.



No. 794,475. PATENTED JULY 11, 1905.

F. B. WILDMAN & E. G. LOOMIS.

PATTERN MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1 1904.

6 SHEETBSHEET 1.

WIZZ'ZV' I No. 794.475- PATENTED JULY 11, 1905. F. B. WILDMAN & B. G. LOOMIS.

PATTERN MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 10. 1904.

5 BHEETS-SHEBT 2.

rave/0%)" No. 794.475. PATENTBD JULY 11 1905. I. B. WILDMAN & E. G. LOOMIS.

PATTERN MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLIOA SEPT. 10. 1904.

5 SHEETS-SHEBT 3 No. 794.475. PATBNTED JULY 11, 1905.

F. B. WILDMAN & E. G. LOOMIS.

PATTERN MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 10. 1904.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

P. B. WILDMAN & E

PATENTED JULY 11, 1905. G. LOOMIS.

PATTERN MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 10, 1904.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

ml l Patented July 11, 1905.

' UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFicE.

' FRANK B. VVILDMAN AND EVARTS Gr. LOOMIS, OF NORRISTOVVN,

I PENNSYLVANIA.

PATTERN MECHANISM FOR KNITTING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters-Patent No. 794,475, dated July 11, 1905. Application filed September 10, 1904:. Serial No. 223,988.

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK B. WILDMAN and EVARTS G. LOOMIS, citizens of the United States, residing at Norristown, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pattern Mechanism for Knitting- Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to knitting-machines, and particularly to the type of machines in which the cylinder and dial together with the fabric rotate; and our object is to provide pattern mechanism for a machine of this character which will be accessible at all times for inspection or adjustment whether the machine is at rest or in rotation.

We arrange the measuring and pattern wheels upon a fixed part of the frame and drive the same step by step from the rotary parts of the machine, one or more advancing actions of the measuring mechanism taking place for each revolution of the machine.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of a knitting-machine of the type in which the cylinders and dial rotate together with the fabric and take-up means. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the said machine. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the measuring and pattern mechanism. Fig. 1 is a detail view of the camway or track and its connection with the pattern-wheel lever. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of the adjustable disk and its manner of support. Fig. 7 is a plan View of the pattern and measuring mechanism. Fig. 8 is a detail view of means for setting the parts of the pattern mechanism in position. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view of the wormshaft and attached parts. Fig. 10 is a detail plan view showing the cam and lever arrangement for operating the worm-shaft. Fig. 11 is a detail plan view of the connections to the knitting devices, showing their relation to the roller on the revolving part of the machine. Fig. 12 is a detail View of a ratchetwheel and pin.

A portion of the patterm mechanism shown herein is similar in its general features to that disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States granted to F. B. Wildman November i l i l i In the present drawings, (t represents the knitting-head, supported by housings 6', extending. up from a base-ring c. The patternwheel d is carried by a shaft 6, journaled in one of the housings b of the machine. The pattern-wheel has pattern-blocks thereon to operate a lever, which in turn operates certain parts controlling the knitting devices to change the character of the stitch, as will be hereinafter described. The pattern-wheel is operated through measuring mechanism, including a measuring-wheel 1, which is loose on the shaft 0 of the pattern-wheel, the said measuring-wheel through the dropping of its pawl controlling a constantly-reciprocating pattern-starting pawl which when in its lowermost position will engage the pattern ratchet-wheel f, which is fixed to the shaft 0, and thus the pattern-wheel will be operated one or more steps for each revolution of the machine, as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

The driving of the measuring-wheel 1 from the rotary parts carrying the take-up mechanism .and fabric is accomplished through a Worm-gear 2,frictionally held to the measuring-wheel by means of the springs 3, connected with screws 4, which are adjusted to vary the tension of the friction-springs by means of the thumb-nut 5. This frictional connection is such as to cause the measuring-wheel to be driven from the worm-gear; but when it is necessary to turn the measuring-wheel without turning the worm-gear the friction connection will allow this to be done, and it will be understood that this action will become necessary when it is desired to advance the measuring-wheel more rapidly than is done by the worm-gear. The worm-gear meshes with a worm 6, loose on a shaft 7, journaled in bearings in the side frame of the machine. arm 8, which is borne upon by a roller 10 on an arm 9, pivoted to the frame at 11 or to a bracket supported on the frame. This lever carries a roller 12, arranged to be pressed The lower end of the shaft carries an? upon by a cam 13, carried by studs 14, depending from the rotary take-up plate 0. At each revolution of the machine, therefore. the shaft 7 is rotated in one direction, and it is returned as the roller passes the high point of thecam by a spring 16, encircling the shaft, having one end engaging the frame of the machine and its other end engaging a collar 17, fixed on the shaft. The shaft has a clutch member 18 thereon above the worm, held to the shaft by a spline connection, allowing the clutch member to move vertically along the shaft, but causing its rotation with the shaft.

The clutch member is pressed downwardly by a spring 19, surrounding the shaft and resting at its upper end against the bearing 20, and said clutch member engages another clutch member 21, formed with or attached to the upper end of the worm. The worm has connected to its lower end by a pin 22 a ratchetwheel,23, surrounding the shaft, said ratchet- Wheel being held up in place by a collar 24, screwed to the shaft 7. The teeth of the ratchet engage a pawl 25, supported in a socket on a part of the frame and pressed outwardly to engage the ratchet by a spring 26. When now the shaft /7 is operated in one direction by the cam 13 and arms 9 and 8, the worm will be held against rotation by the pawl acting through the ratchet-wheel 23, to which the worm is connected. During this rotary movement of the shaft, however, the clutch.

member 18 will ride upon the clutch member 21, which latter is also held stationary, and

for this purpose the spring 19 and spline connection allows the upward yielding movement of the-clutch member 18. Upon the cessation of i the rotary movement under the action of the cam the clutch member 18 falls into engagement with the clutch member 21, and the spring 16, now exerting its force, gives a reverse rotatory movement to the shaft, and the clutch members beingnow engaged the worm is rotated and the measuringwheel is slowly turned through the worm-gearing, and one movement of the measuring-wheel thus takes place for each round of knitting, though we do not wish to limit ourselves in this respect. Now for giving the measu ring-wheel its quick movements, which are necessary in making certain patterns, we employ the following mechanism: A rod 27 slides in bearings 28 in the frame and is provided with a rack 29, attached thereto by screws 30. This rack is engaged by the teeth of a gear-wheel 31, fixed on the shaft 7, and thus the rod reciprocates once for each revolutionfof the machine. The sliderodcarries a pawl 32, pivoted at 33 to a bracket 34, secured to the slide -rod by screws, as shown. This pawl is adapted to engage the ratchet teeth of the measuring-wheel and at certain times, and when so engaged the measuring-wheel is racked or pawled around, one

action taking place for each revolution of the ing-ratchet until the slow motion of the drive worm-gear carries the block from under the pawl and allows it to fall into engagement with the teeth of the measuring-wheel, when the more rapid step-by-step movement of the measuring wheel takes place until another block on said wheel lifts the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet-teeth. The measuring-pawl 32 we use to control the pattern starting pawl 35, which, like the measuringpawl, is carried'by the slide-rod 27, for which purpose the pattern-starting pawl is provided with a pin 36, which rests upon the measuring-pawl, so that when the measuring-pawl falls the pattern-starting pawl will also fall and engage the teeth of the ratchet-wheel-f, which is fixed to the shaft 6, upon which the pattern-wheel is also fixed. The reciprocating slide-rod 27 carries a third pawl 38, which is adapted to turn the pattern drive wheel or ratchet f after it is started by the startingpawl irrespective of the position up or down of the latter and irrespective also of the position of the measuring-pawl. This third pawl or pattern drive-pawl engages pins or screws 39, projecting from the face of the ratchetwheel, and so drives the same step by step. The screws or pins are removable, and thus the pattern-wheel maybe arrested at any desired point by simply leaving out one of the pins, so that the action of the pawl 38 will be ineflectiveuntil the measuring mechanism allows the starting-pawl 35 to drop into the ratchet drive wheel of the pattern wheel, when the pattern movement will be again started and the pattern-wheel .will continue in rotation until another space is brought around to the pawl.

The. blocks 40 of the pattern-wheel act on a roller 41 of a lever 42, pivoted to the frame I and connected by a link 42 with a shifting blockv43, having a camway or track 44 therein, said block being pivoted to the frame at 45. The camway receives at each. revolution of the machine a roller 46 on a rod 47, which slides vertically .in a suitable guideway in one of the arms orstandards b, which are attached to the gear carrying the needle-cylinder to rotate therewith and to the take-up plate to cause its rotation. This rod carries a disk 49, adapted to strike and operate certain. levers connected with the knitting devices, as will hereinafter be described. The rod is notched at 50, and these notches are to be engaged by a spring-pin 51, arranged in a socket 52 in the arm or standard 6. The camway 44 has a wide mouth for receiving the roller 46, and from this point the camway narrows gradually to about equal in width to the diameter of the roll 46. According to the position to on the patternwheel the roller 46 will be moved up or down, and the rod will consequently be shifted, together with the disk, these parts being held in adjusted position up or down by the spring pin engaging the notches in the rod. The disk is adapted to act on levers 53 54, respectively, when set by the pattern mechanism in line therewith. These levers are pivoted to a bracket 55, secured to the fixed head of the machine by bolts, and they are connected, respectively, through links 55 and 56 with the arms 57 58, fixed to a rock-shaft 59, journaled in the bracket 55. clamped to its upper end, carrying a pin 60, through Which a rod 61 passes, said rod being connected at its inner end 62 to the knitting-cams in any suitable manner, so that when the rod is moved the knitting devices will be adjusted. The rod hasstops 63 clamped thereon adjustably and arranged on opposite sides of the pin. By these stops the position inwardly and outwardly of the knitting device when adjusted can be accurately determined.

As in the patented form of pattern mechanism above mentioned, the measuring-wheel can be turned by hand by means of the handwheel 64, attached to the measuring-wheel by the sleeve 65, loose on the shaft 6. The pattern-wheel can be turned by hand by means of the crank arm or handle 65, fixed to the shaft '6.

The various parts of the pattern mechanism outside the frame of the machine may be inclosed in a casing-such, for instance, as is illustrated at 66 in Figs. 3, 7, and 8 may be employed. With the parts thus inclosed it is desirable to provide stop means whereby the parts of the measuring and pattern mechanisms may be set in initial position, and for this purpose we provide a lever 67, pivoted at 68 within the casing and provided with a pin 69, projecting through'an opening 7 O in the casing. This pin is adapted to serve as a registering-stop for the handle 65 to strike against when the lever 67 is depressed, as will be presently described. The lever also has a stop in the form of a shoulder 71 for a pin 72 on one of the blocks of the measuringwheel to abut against in setting the said wheel in its proper initial position. The lever is depressed to render its stops effective, and for this purpose a push pin or rod 73 is provided, movable through the casing and through a hollow boss 74, formed thereon, the said rod being connected with the lever by a screw-and-slot connection 75 76. A spring 7 7 presses the push-rod with the lever.normally upward to hold the stops out of action; but by depressing the push-rod the lever is depressed and its stops are brought into line with the parts to be set, and then by turning the hand-wheel and the crank arm or lever the parts of the measuring mechanism and The shaft has an arm 59 the pattern-wheel can be set in position for starting.

From the above it will be seen that we arrange the measuring and pattern v mechanism on stationary parts of the machine where they are accessible at all times for examination and adjustment while the machine is in operation, that said mechanism is driven from the rotating parts of the machine, that said pattern mechanism controls the position of a patterndisk carried by the rotating part of the machine, and that this disk controls connections supported on the fixed parts of the machine and leading to the knitting devices.

What we claim is 1. In combination in a knitting-machine having rotary needle-beds and revolving fabric-controlling means, pattern and measuring wheels supported on the fixed frame a worm-- wheel on the fixed frame for operating the measuring-wheeland means for rotating both the measuring-wheel and the pattern-wheel from the revolving parts of the machine, in-

cludinga worm and a reciprocating pawl substantially as described.

2. In combination in a knitting-machine having rotary needle-beds and a revolving fabric-controlling means, pattern mechanism including a pattern-wheel and a measuringwheel supported on the fixed frame, means for driving said wheels independently from the revolving part of the machine,'a shifting disk or roll carried by the revolving part of the machine, means on the fixed frame arranged to be set in different position by the pattern-wheel for altering the position of the said disk, and connections to the knitting devices actuated by the said disk, substantially as described.

3. In combination in a knitting-machine, connections to the knitting device, a shifting device to be set in different fixed posit-ions and rotating with the machine for operating the said connections, a shifting cam-track for altering the position of the said shifting device and pattern mechanism for changing the position of the cam-track, substantially as described.

4. In combination in a knitting-machine having revolving needle-beds, connections to the knitting devices, a shifting disk or projection on a revolving part of the machine to operate said connection when positioned in the plane thereof, a shifting cam-track on a fixed part of the machine to alter the position of the said disk and pattern'mechanism for changing the position ofthe said cam-track, substantially as described.

5." In combination in a knitting-machine, connections to the knitting devices, a shiftingdisk for operating the said connection when moved into the plane thereof, a cam-track for altering the position of the disk, a patternwheel, a lever operated thereby, and a link IIO connecting the said lever with the camtrack, substantially as described.

6. In combination in a knitting-machine, connections leading to the knitting devices, a shifting-disk for operating the said connections when moved into the plane thereof, a shifting cam-track pivotally supported and pattern mechanism for moving the cam-track, substantially as described.

7. In combination in a knitting-machine having rotary needle-beds, connections leading to the knitting devices, a shifting-disk on a revolving part of the machine for operating the said connections, a pattern-wheel and a shifting cam-track on the fixed frame of the machine and means for operating the patternwheel from a revolving part of the machine, said shifting cam-track being pivotally supported and having a flaring mouth adjacent the pivot, substantially as described.

8. In combination in a knitting-machine, connections to the knitting devices, a shifting disk or projection for operating the said connection, pattern mechanism for shifting the disk and means independent of the pattern mechanism for retaining the disk in shifted position, substantially as described.

9. In combination in a knitting-machine, connections to the knitting device, a shifting disk or projection for operating the said connection, said disk having a stem with notches therein a spring-pin for engaging the notches to hold the disk in adjusted position and pattern mechanism for adjusting the disk,'substantially as described.

10. In a knitting-machine, pattern mechanism comprising a pattern element and a measuring-wheel, a worm-gear for operating the measuring-Wheel, a worm meshing with the Wormgear, a rock-shaft on which the worm is supported, a clutch between the shaft and worm to allow the shaft to turn one way without effect but to turn the worm when rotating in the opposite direction and a ratchet and detent to hold the worm against movement in one direction, substantially as described.

11. In combination in a knitting-machine having revolving needle-beds, pattern mechanism comprising a-pattern-wheel and a measuring-wheel, a worm-wheel for moving the measuring-wheel, a worm meshing therewith, a rock-shaft carrying the worm, a clutch between the rock-haft and worm, means for preventing movement of the worm in one direction, and means for rocking the shaft from a part revolving with the needle-beds, substantially as described.

12. In combination,aknitting-machine-pattern mechanism comprising a pattern-wheel driving the same from the rock-shaft, sub

stantially as described.

13. In combination in a knitting-machine,

pattern mechanism including a pattern member and rotary and reciprocating parts controlling the same, a rock-shaft operated from a revolving part of the machine gearing connected with said rock-shaft, for advancing the rotary parts one step for each revolution of the machine, said rock-shaft also operating the reciprocating parts one step for each revolution of the machine, substantially as described.

14. In combination in a knitting-machine, pattern mechanism comprising a patternwheel, a ratchet drive-Wheel, a ratchet measuring-wheel and a worm-wheel for driving the measuring-wheel, a rock-shaft, a worm thereon meshing with the worm-wheel, aslide carrying pawls for operating the measuring-wheel and ratchet drive-wheel and a gear on the rock-shaft meshing with teeth on the slide for operating the same, substantially as described.

15. In combination with a knitting-machine having rotating needle-beds, pattern mechanism supported on the fixed frame of the machine and including rotary and reciprocating parts, a shaft with means for driving the same from a part revolving with the needlebeds and means for operating the reciprocating parts from the said shaft, and independent means for transmitting rotary motion directly from the said shaft, substantially as described.

16. In combination in pattern mechanism for knitting-machines, a pattern-wheel, a ratchetdrive-wheel for the pattern-wheel,having teeth and removable pins, a starting-pawl to engage the teeth of the'ratch et-wheel, and a pawl to engage the pins and drive the ratchet until a space is reached which is left by the removal of a pin and means for driving the pawls, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK B. WILDMAN. EVARTS Gr. LOOMIS.

Witnesses:

CARRIE LANDIS, F. L. MIDDLETON. 

